brushes my wet slit, the pad of his thumb pressing against my sensitive bundle of nerves. “There was a problem with … the principal about Ainsley. She doesn’t want Ainsley there because of her … p-problems. Oh, God.” Dropping my head back against his chest, I open my legs further as his fingers dip into my arousal. “That feels so good, East.”
He bites down further into my neck, then swipes his tongue against the same spot to sooth it gently. “The principal sounds like an asshole.”
Eyes fluttering closed, I nod. “She is. I wasn’t going to let her take Ainsley away when s-she’s smart enough to be there.” I talk quietly so Ainsley doesn’t hear, holding back the moan that creeps up my throat as he works me with his fingers. When he adds a second digit and begins entering me and hooking until he hits the perfect spot, I lean forward and bury my mouth in my arm to refrain from making noise.
“She fired you for being a parent?”
My lips part. “Yes.”
His kisses become lighter. “I’m sorry.”
Don’t be. I meet his fingers every time, grinding into him until his cock grows harder with every brush of my ass against the front of his jeans. “What are we doing?” I ask, feeling my orgasm building.
“Whatever the fuck we want.”
I bite my arm again as he quickens his movement, his fingers thrusting into me as his thumb rubs against my clit. “But I thought…” Just shut up, Piper, I scold myself. If I open a can of worms, it’ll be awkward.
I’m so close to coming when he asks, “You thought what?”
My breathing becomes heavier as I choke my whimpers down. Sweat dotting my brow, I grind down into his hand and make a gargled noise as I come hard. He lets me ride out the sensation, kissing my neck, jaw, and cheek until my body stills against him.
“You thought what?” he repeats, pulling his hand away and letting me zip and button my pants again.
I swallow. “Never mind.”
“Pip—”
“I have to get Ainsley ready for bed.”
Before he can answer, I walk around him and into the living room where Ainsley is intently watching another cartoon. She doesn’t even look at me when I sit down beside her, just keeps watching her show without a care in the world.
I envy her.
Her innocence.
But I know, deep down, her innocence was lost when her parents died. And we only have each other to get through the tough times.
“I love you so much, Nugget.”
Her eyes travel over to mine.
And she smiles.
I’m woken up to an unfamiliar sound that puts me on edge. It’s nearing five in the morning, too early to be up, but too late for East to just be getting home. I push the comforter off me and grab the baseball bat I keep next to my bed.
Tiptoeing out of the bedroom in my bare feet and oversized tee covering my body, I focus on the noise. I pause when I realize it’s coming from Ainsley’s room, and rush to open her door when I hear the muffled sound of crying. Resting the bat against the wall when I see her damp face buried in her pillow as she restlessly moves, I walk into the room and sit on the edge of the bed.
Something comes from her that cracks my heart in two as I move hair away from her sleeping face. Her cheeks are red, her lips pinched, and I can tell she’s in pain.
“Daddy,” she whimpers in a brokenly melodic tone I haven’t heard in so long. My lips part as she cries for Danny, and it’s only seconds before tears stream down my cheeks too.
“Baby girl,” I whisper, voice cracking as I brush my fingers through her hair. “Wake up, sweetie. It’s just a nightmare.”
But it’s not. She knows it was this day three years ago that her father passed away. I was hoping she’d be like any other kid with no sense of time. Of course, she isn’t. She’s aware—too aware. I can’t help her stop feeling the loss, the pain. I can only be there for her as she experiences it.
Ainsley doesn’t wake until I gently shake her arm, lip quivering at the way she bolts up. Her tear-stained face shatters me into tiny pieces, her arms wrapping around my neck and clinging to me. We both need this.
“I know, Nugget.” And I do. I know what it’s like to miss Danny. I loved him more than I should